CHAPTER 130: TRASH COINCIDENCE

It wasn’t new to Jenna. Walking down an aisle with a veil on her face. This wasn’t new at all. The only thing that was new was the feeling, she could name it proper. Anxiety.

Her chest rammed, her fingers twitched, and her palms sweaty. She didn’t like the feeling at all. Her mind was everywhere and nowhere at same time.

Now with her face wrapped in veil, Jenna didn’t feel like any bride. She felt like she was walking on a cloud with no sense of direction. To think that she was never going to speak or touch Rhane anymore, it was too unbearable.

Just two nights ago, they were all over each other. She had him and he had her. They played and soaked each other up in sea water. If she knew that would be the last time they’d share a moment like that, Jenna would have asked Rhane to elope with her.

Agreed immediately to run to another kingdom overseas with him. The feeling was too suffocating for Jenna that despite the veil being light and breathable silk, she wanted to yank it out from her face and scream but that would be ruining things.

The only fortuity she had to let Rhane claim her without Gerald being a tick in their skin. Jenna sucked in a deep breath that almost left her chewing her veil, then she let it out slowly. She allowed herself to be led by Lois and Olivia.

The golden and white dress they’d made her wear was the heaviest and longest, so she had to stand behind everyone else. Jenna didn’t need to watch her steps, else her veil fell. She had Lois and Olivia do all that for her, with the direction of Lady Rachel.

"Walk to the side," the woman instructed.

Jenna felt encumbered as though she was a child who had just learnt how to walk for the first time.

"They’re on horses...ow..."

"He looks like an angel on a white horse...even his skin is clearer than Lois’s hair."

"I want him! I wish he’d look this way."

Jenna heard the women swooning, she knew very well that the only man that had the qualities of an angel among the three was Hart. And the young man did have a white horse. If for anything, Hart was really every woman’s dream. Adorable in all sense.

"Isn’t he a chubby fine man? I’d love to feed a man like him."

"His silk is also fine...he must be a noble. I want to be lady of a manor."

Jenna rolled her eyes, if only they knew. She knew immediately who they’d seen. It was Gerald. From afar, anyone with less knowledge would think he was normal but Jenna knew better and she was willing to say it out loud if they’d let her speak.

Counting mentally, Jenna knew the next person would be Rhane. Holding her breath, she waited.

"He’s lanky..."

"He looks old."

"Isn’t he married?"

"That potbelly of a man that sleeps with ale."

Jenna frowned, none of those qualities belonged to her Rhane. Itching with curiosity, Jenna tried to sneak a peek—

"Bring your face down, Jenna!" Lady Rachel scolded with a harsh voice that made Jenna’s heart skip.

Eyes looked in her direction but for a fleeting moment, except for the eyes of one person that remained.

Jenna squeezed her eyes shut, she bit her lips praying Rhane hadn’t witnessed how she had been scolded, it was embarrassing enough that she needed help to walk.

"It is always refreshing to see women gathered like this..." The leader of the council spoke up, "Since we have all introduced ourselves, let us take this inside and—" someone whispered something in the man’s ear.

"And we forgot to introduce one man," he gestured.

Rhane dismounted his horse, patting the thick mane to calm the beast while his lazy eyes scaled the crowd. "I am Rhane Henderick."

For a moment silence floated in the gathering.

Gerald snorted, "They already hate him," he said, shaking his head in mock pity. "A wild beast is better than him."

Meanwhile, Jenna held her breath when she heard the unmistakable sound of Rhane’s voice, that was regal and controlling as a king’s, rough and stern as a pirate yet still and calming like a blue sea before sunrise.

The urge to look up raged within Jenna, building a storm in her heart. She could feel it, his eyes on her. She didn’t know how to put it in words but she knew Rhane was looking at her.

"He...he is big."

"Look at his hands, he’d snap a woman with those hands."

"He looks scary...I’m afraid to look at his face."

The awaited whispers and judgement of the maidens followed Rhane’s belated introduction. Compared to the others, the women had more to say about everything concerning Rhane.

"Why is he cloaked in black, no woman would find that attractive."

"I see his eyes...it’s scary yes but I like it."

Jenna nodded in agreement. She had been scared of Rhane at first too, he didn’t smile and he seemed scary but he wasn’t at all. He was just a soft little wolf seeking a master.

"Lois, why is he looking at us?" Olivia sputtered, gripping Jenna’s hand. "He seems like he’d thrash me if I stare too long."

Lois scoffed, shaking her head. "He is just like any man here, if not taller. I think he is just...wait." The young woman squinted, "Why does he...those eyes...I’ve—"

Jenna cleared her throat, she’d almost forgotten Lois had met Rhane before. And the girl was one to never stop digging her nose through something.

"Um...I feel an itch on my knee," Jenna said, "Lois, if you may please...."

Lois stared a little longer at Rhane, but nodded. "I’ll help you," she bent down, rubbing Jenna’s knee.

"They’re coming...they’re coming over here." Olivia announced, unsure of what to do with her body.

Jenna took the opportunity of everyone moving to lift her face, she was just in time to see Rhane approaching in her direction. She knew he wasn’t going to grab her and maybe spin her around, but her heart raced with the thought of him coming closer to her with each step.

"Do you still feel an itch?" Lois asked, getting no reply from Jenna. She tried to stand, but one of the ladies who was eager to follow the men behind knocked her over.

In the great twisted humor of fate that never gets sour and trash coincidence, Lois fell in the arms of no other but Rhane who caught her midfall out of reflex.

"Oh!" Gasps and cooking gossips filled the air.

"He caught her...a man held Lois!"

For the third time in one day, Jenna held her breath as she watched another woman in the arms of Rhane.

"Careful," Rhane muttered, before letting go of her hand. He continued on his way, his eyes ahead.

Jenna pressed her lips, waiting for Rhane to look in her direction and acknowledge her presence. Even if it wasn’t a smile, a look her way would have healed the tremor, she felt in her heart at the moment.

Rhane walked past her.